HOLDERS York were knocked out of the Kingfisher Beer Cup in agonising fashion after a rain-affected regional final against Doncaster Town.

The fourth round tie at Clifton Park was washed out with the hosts on 87-4, 29 overs into their reply after Solly Sports Yorkshire ECB County Premier League rivals Doncaster had posted 136 all out from 43.3 overs.

The South Yorkshire side moved into the last 16 on a marginally faster run-rate – but York would have progressed had they scored just one more run from their 29 overs.

York, who lifted the trophy last year after beating Wanstead & Snaresbrook in the final at Derbyshire, went into the tie shorn of captain Daniel Woods and in-form opening batsman Jack Leaning, who was making his County Championship debut for Yorkshire against Surrey at Headingley.

Stand-in York skipper Nick Kay won the toss and elected to bowl, with the decision paying dividends as Duncan Snell (2-22) and Matthew Hodsdon (3-26) reduced the visitors to 28-5.

The Doncaster middle order staged a mini-recovery, with Amitpaul Kundra making 25, James Dobson 22 and Ashley Knowles 27, while the hosts also leaked a costly 27 extras, including 20 wides.

However, Kay (1-21 off seven overs) and Ryan McKendry (0-24 off nine) kept the scoring in check before Tom Pringle and Oliver Hairs wrapped up the innings with two wickets apiece.

York openers Snell and Liam McKendry made a steady start before the former became the first of three victims for one-time Yorkshire county batsman Simon Widdup (3-35) for 12 with the score on 30.

Hairs and Alex Collins went cheaply and Ryan McKendry then struck three boundaries in his 16 before he was out with the score on 87.

His brother, Liam, was left not out on 39 from 86 balls, including five fours, when the game was abandoned with York narrowly behind on the scoring rate.

Doncaster will now host either Blaydon or South Northumberland in the last 16 on Sunday, July 14.